Display devices

ABSTRACT

A display device for displaying articles carried by the device. The device includes a foldable body of sheet material having top and bottom edges and opposed side edges and divided between its top and bottom edges with a fold line along which the sheet material is folded so that it has a rear wall extending upwardly from the fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from the fold line. A pair of side tabs respectively project laterally from the side edges of the sheet material. A pair of hollow end members respectively have hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving the side edges of the body of sheet material, these end members having upright walls which are perpendicular to the body of sheet material and which are respectively formed with openings through which the tabs respectively extend. These hollow end members respectively have structures coacting with outer end regions of the tabs for maintaining the body of sheet material assembled with the end members, and a supporting structure coacts with the end members for supporting the latter with the body of sheet material extending therebetween at any desired location. The articles to be displayed are situated between the end members and along the second wall of the body of sheet material in front of the rear wall thereof.

United States Patent Kayden Aug. 14, 1973 DISPLAY DEVICES Edward Kayden, 22 Park Place, Great Neck, N.Y. 11021 [76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 211/132, 229/30 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 3/14 [58] Field of Search 211/126, 88, 90, 211/134, 135, 132, 73; 229/30; 108/135, 152, 159, 157

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,236,557 4/1941 Zalkind 229/30 2,490,269 12/1949 Johnson 211/126 2,730,292 1/1956 Jonas et a]. 229/30 3,033,378 5/1962 Dethardt et al.... 211/126 3,193,108 7/1965 Johnson 211/134 X 3,390,783 7/1968 Quackenbush 211/73 3,494,479 2/1970 Martin 211/126 3,497,127 2/1970 Box 229/30 3,5l2,696 5/1970 Ebert 21 l/l26 3,567,038 3/1971 Ammann 211/88 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Harold D. Steinberg and Martin Blake 5 7 ABSTRACT A display device for displaying articles carried by the device. The device includes a foldable body of sheet material having top and bottom edges and opposed side edges and divided between its top and bottom edges with a fold line along which the sheet material is folded so that it has a rear wall extending upwardly from the fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from the fold line. A pair of side tabs respectively project laterally from the side edges of the sheet material. A pair of hollow end members respectively have hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving the side edges of the body of sheet material, these end members having upright walls which are perpendicular to the body of sheet material and which are respectively formed with openings through which the tabs respectively extend. These hollow and members respectively have structures coacting with outer end regions of the tabs for maintaining the body of sheet material assembled with the end members, and a supporting structure coacts with the end members for supporting the latter with the body of sheet material extending therebetween at any desired location. The articles to be displayed are situated between the end members and along the second wall of the body of sheet material in front of the rear wall thereof.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD KAYDEN ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,323

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 L INVENTOR.

' EDWARD KAYDEN ATTORNE Y5 DISPLAY DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to display devices.

In particular, the present invention relates to display devices which are adapted to carry any desired articles such as containers of any desired configuration in the form of bottles, boxes, or the like. These articles are supported by the display device in such a way that they can be displayed in a retail establishment, for example, thus enabling prospective purchasers to see the articles which are on display.

While such display devices are known and take a variety of different forms, these known display devices suffer from several drawbacks. Such display devices generally take the form of structure which may be similar to shelves or the like for supporting the articles which are to be displayed. The conventional display devices are relatively expensive particularly in view of the fact that they are generally supplied by a manufacturer or distributor together with the articles which are to be displayed and used only in connection with these articles. Experience has shown that it is not possible to make such display devices at a sufficiently low cost to warrant the use of such display devices only with particular articles which are supplied to a retailer with the display devices. Furthermore, the known display devices are bulky, complex units which are difficult to assemble and which occupy an undesirably large amount of space. They cannot always be conveniently located in a position suitable for display because most retailers have the available display space already occupied by numerous other articles making it difficult to find room for additional display devices and articles to be displayed thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary objective of the present invention to provide a display device which will solve the above problems.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive display de vice which can be supplied at low cost together with the articles which are to be displayed, the cost of the display device being sufficiently low so that no great loss is involved in discarding the display device after the period of the display of the articles has terminated.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device of the above type which is exceedingly simple so that it can be readily assembled without any particular difficulty.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a display device which when assembled provides an exceedingly stable support for the articles which are displayed.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device which lends itself with minor adaptations to the display of articles which may differ widely in their construction, so that the display device of the invention can be used by many different types of manufacturers or distributors for the purpose of displaying widely differing articles.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device which can readily be situated on any available supporting surface.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a display device which, if there is no available supporting surface on which the display device can be situated, nevertheless can be attached to an existing shelf, for example, to form a shelf extender on which the articles can be displayed.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a display device which not only is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble but which in addition can be shipped in a knocked-down, disassembled condition where it will occupy only a small amount of space, so that the device of the invention can easily and conveniently be shipped.

According to the invention the display device includes a body of sheet material which is foldable and which has both top and bottom substantially parallel edges as well as opposed substantially parallel side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom edges. This foldable body of sheet material is provided between its top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line parallel to the top and bottom edges and along which the sheet material can be folded so that it has a rear wall extending upwardly from the fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from the fold line. Also, the body of sheet material has a pair of side tabs projecting laterally from the opposed side edges of the sheet material and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are wider than intermediate regions of the tabs which extend between the outer end regions and the side edges, respectively. The display device further includes a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors which are directed toward each other and which receive the opposed side edges of the body of sheet material, these end members respectively having upright walls which are perpendicular to the body of sheet material and which engage the side edges thereof in the hollow interiors of the end members. These end members have rear flanges extending toward each other from their upright walls and engaging the rear wall of the body of sheet material to determine the upright attitude thereof. Also, the upright walls of the end members are respectively formed with openings through which the tabs extend with these tabs respectively having their intermediate regions situated in these openings and their outer end regions situated beyond these openings. The pair of hollow end members respectively have means coacting with the outer end regions of the tabs for maintaining them connected with the end members so that in this way the parts are retained in an assembled condition where the body of sheet material extends between and is assembled with the end members to form with the latter the display device of the invention which can accommodate articles to be displayed at the second wall of the body of sheet material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which fonn part of this application and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective illustration of one possible embodiment of a display device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of the device of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the end member of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing part of a body of sheet material in its assembled condition with the end member;

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the blank of the body of sheet material which is subsequently folded to form the body of sheet material extending between the pair of end members;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective illustration illustrating how part of the assembly of the components of the display device takes place;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of another embodiment of a display device according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section elevation of the device of FIG. 6 taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating details of one of the end members of the embodiment of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the blank of the body of sheet material which is used to form part of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the display device 10 of the invention which is illustrated therein includes a body of sheet material 12 and a pair of hollow end members 14 and 16 between which the body of sheet material 12 extends and with which it is assembled in a manner described in greater detail below. The pair of hollow end members 14 and 16 are in the form of one-piece moldings capable of being inexpensively molded by injection molding techniques, for example. The body of sheet material 12 takes the form of a foldable sheet material such as a heavy cardboard which may include, for example. an intermediate corrugated sheet sandwiched between a pair of covering sheets so that the foldable body of sheet material may be made of such well known cardboard in an inexpensive manner while at the same time the body of sheet material 12 is sufficiently robust to reliably support articles which are to be displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the blank 18 which is used for the body of sheet material 12. This blank 18 may be readily die cut from sheets of cardboard of the type referred to above. The blank 18 which is used to form the body of sheet material 12 is of a generally rectangular configuration and has top and bottom edges 20 and 22 which are straight and parallel to each other. Also the blank 18 has opposed side edges 24 and 26 which are straight and parallel to each other and which are perpendicular to the top and bottom edges 20 and 22. Furthermore, the blank 18 has side tabs 28 and 30 which project laterally from the side edges 24 and 26, respectively, and which are of a generally T-shaped configuration, as is apparent from FIG. 4. These side tabs 28 and 30 have outer end regions 32 and 34 which are wider than intermediate regions 36 and 28 which respectively extend between the outer end regions 32 and 34 and the side edges 24 and 26. The wider outer end regions 32 and 34 respectively have free end portions 39, 40, 42, and 44 which project beyond the intermediate regions 36 and 38 in the manner shown in FIG. 4 for a purpose referred to below.

The blank 18 which is used to form the body of sheet material 12 has a series of fold lines 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 formed therein as by providing suitable score lines extending across the blank parallel to the top and bottom edges 20 and 22 thereof. Between the fold line 46 and the top edge 20 the blank 18 has an upper portion 58 formed with a pair of cuts 62 and 64. These cuts are in the form of slits which extend through the body of sheet material and which may have the generally L shaped configuration shown in FIG. 4, so that each of the cuts 62 and 64 has a pair of tongues 62a, 62b for the cut 62 and 64a, 64b for the cut 64, these tongues being yieldable along the vertical portions of the slits for a purpose referred to below.

The blank 18 is folded along the fold line 48 so as to provide the body of sheet material 12 with a rear wall 66 extending upwardly from the fold line 48 and a second wall 68 extending forwardly from the fold line 48. All of the body of sheet material below the fold line 50, at the front end of the second wall 68, is situated at the front of the body of sheet material 13. The blank 18 is folded backwardly upon itself along the lines 52 and 54 so that the body of sheet material 12 has an upwardly extending portion 70 extending upwardly from the front edge 50 of the second wall 68 and extending substantially parallel to the rear wall 66, this front wall portion 70 terminating in the upper edge region defined between the fold lines 52 and 54 which are situated close to each other and have a distance conforming to the thickness of the sheet material. From the fold line 54 the body of sheet material extends all the way down to the bottom edge 22 forming a front wall portion 72 which overlaps and extends downwardly beyond the front wall portion 70.

The blank 18 folded in the above manner so as to form the body of sheet material 12 is assembled with the pair of hollow end members 14 and 16. These hollow end members respectively have upright walls 74 and 76 and flanges 78 and 80 respectively extending from the upright walls 74 and 76 toward each other to define the hollow interiors of the end members which receive the side edges 24 and26 of the body of sheet material 12 with these side edges engaging the upright walls 74 and 76 and with the latter being perpendicular to the body of sheet material, as is apparent from FIG. 1. The upright walls 74 and 76 are respectively formed with openings 82 and 84 through which the tabs 28 and 30 respectively extend for the purpose of assembling the body of sheet material 12 with the hollow members 14 and 16. In addition these members 14 and 16 are respectively provided with means described below coacting with the wider outer end regions 32 and 34 of the tabs 28 and 30 for the purpose of maintaining the parts assembled in the condition shown in FIG. 1.

The pair of hollow end members 14 and 16 are of the same construction and are in the form of one-piece molded bodies, as referred to above, the only difference between them being that they are mirror images of each other so that theyare capable of cooperating with the opposed ends of the body of sheet material 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Thus, while the details of the hollow end member 16 are referred to below, it is to be understood that the hollow end member 14 is constructed in the same way except that it is a mirror image of the end member 16. The hollow interior of the end member 16 is visible in FIG. 2. Thus, FIG. 2 shows the inside surface of the upright wall 76 and the manner in which the flange structure 80 is arranged. FIG. 2 shows the opening 84 which is formed in the upright wall 76. Also FIG. 2 shows a front flange 86 and a rear flange 88 which are integral with and project from the upright wall 76 toward the hollow end member 14. Thus these flanges are integral with and substantially perpendicular to the upright wall 76. While the opening 84 is of a generally rectangular configuration, it has along its bottom edge 90 an intermediate upper extension 92 for a purpose referred to below. Behind the front flange 86 the member 16 has an inner rib 94 which is parallel to and spaced from the front flange 86 to define a groove 96 therewith. This inner rib 94 has a top end 98 situated at the same elevation as the opening 84. The member 16 has a rearwardly extending bottom flange 100 extending rearwardly from the bottom end of the rib 94, and over this bottom flange 100 is an inner horizontal rib 102 spaced from and parallel to the flange 100 to form therewith a horizontal groove 104 adapted to receive the free end portion 44 of the tab 30 in a manner described below. Beneath the opening 84 the upright wall 76 has a bottom edge 106 extending rearwardly from the front bottom flange 100 to a rear bottom flange 108 situated beneath an integral rib 110 which defines with the flange 108 a groove 122 for receiving the opposed free end portion 42 of the tab 30. The flange 108 and rib 110 are integral with an extend forwardly from the rear upright flange 88 of the end member 16.

The rear flange 88 is integral at its top end with a rearwardly directed upper rib 114 situated beneath and spaced from a rear upper portion 116 of the flange structure 80 so as to define therewith an upper rear groove 118. The flange 116 is formed with a-pair of transverse notches 120 shown also in FIG. 1, and between these notches the flange 116 of the hollow end member 16 has an integral springy extension 122 which at its inner free end has a downwardly extending protrusion 124 terminating in a lower horizontal relatively sharp edge 126. The end member 114 similarly has an integral springy extension 128 of the same construc- IIOI'I.

Beneath the rib 114 the member 16 is provided with reinforcing ribs and flanges 130, and these extend from and are integral with a horizontally extending jaw 132 in the form of a flange integral with and extending horizontally and rearwardly from the rear flange 18.

The jaw 132 forms part of a support means for supporting the end member 16 in such a way that it will form with the remaining structure of the display device a shelf extender. For this purpose the lower part of the rear flange 88 is formed integrally with a rearwardly extending flange structure having a lower flange 134 and an upper flange 136 interconnected by vertical flanges 138 and 140, the latter also being interconnected by an interior horizontal rib 142. This rib is formed with a notch through which the threaded shank of a screw 144 of the support means can pass, this screw having below the flange 134 a wing-type of head 146 which can be grasped by the operator. A nut 148 is received in the space between the rib 142 and the flange 136, and this flange 136 as well as the flange 134 are formed with openings aligned with each other and the notch in the rib 142 so that the screw 144 can pass therethrough. At its upper end the screw 144 carries a: cup member 150. This member is placed on the top end of the screw after the latter is threaded through the nut 148, with the shank of the screw of course passing through the aligned opening of the flanges 134 and 136. In exactly the same way the end member 14 carries a rotary screw member 152 provided at its top end with a cup 154 and at its bottom end with a manually-engageable head 156, the top end of the screw coacting with a jaw 158.

The wall 74 of the end member 14 is formed with a slot aligned with the protrusion which extends down from the inner free end of the springy extension 128, and the wall 76 is formed with an identical horizontal slot aligned with the protrusion 124. Through these slots the mold will carry suitable core portions which can be retracted after the plastic material has set in the mold so that the plastic material can then be withdrawn so that the molded body will have no undercuts which will prevent removal thereof from the mold. In the same way retractable pins are provided in the mold to form the openings in the flanges 134 and 136 of member 16 and in the corresponding flanges of the member 14. Thus no subsequent drilling operation or the like are required and the members 14 and 16 can readily be molded in injection molds in an inexpensive manner and require no subsequent machining.

The upright wall 76 of the end member 16 also has integrally formed therewith in its interior a flange or rib 162 located along the upper edge of the opening 84.

The above-described components of the display device 10 of the invention are assembled in the following manner:

The blank 18 is folded along the several fold lines 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 so that the blank will have the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 where the rear wall 66 extends upwardly from the fold line 48 and the second wall 68 extends forwardly therefrom. Also the front wall portion 72 is folded back upon the front wall portion 70 which extends upwardly from the fold line 50.

It will be noted that the length of the opening 84 corresponds to the width of the intermediate region 38 of the tab 30. In order to pass the tab 30 through the opening 84, the free end portions 42 and 44 of the outer end region 34 are bent inwardly against the remainder of the tab in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 5, and now the tab can pass through the opena ing 84 which is only slightly longer than the width of the intermediate region 38 of the tab 30. The intermediate portion 92 of the opening 84 will become situated between the end portions 42 and 44 while the latter pass with the end region 34 through the deeper end regions of the opening 84, and once the outer end region 34 is situated through and beyond the opening 84 the free end portions 42 and 44 can be returned to the position shown in FIG. 4. In this way the opening 84 will have a width only slightly greater than the width of the intermediate narrower region 38 of the substantially T- shaped tab 30. The same operations are performed with the other end member 14. The blank 18 is formed with score lines 164 and 166 for the tab 30 and 168 and 170 for the tab 28. After the tabs have thus been extended through the openings 84 of the hollow end members the intermediate portions 36 and 38 are folded downwardly along the exterior surfaces of the upright walls of the hollow end members by folding these tabs along the score lines 168 and 164, respectively. The lengths of the intermediate regions 36 and 38 of the tabs correspond to the distance between the openings of the end members and their bottom edges such as the bottom edge 106 of the member 16. Thus, once the intermediate regions of the tabs are situated along the exterior side surfaces of the end members extending downwardly from the openings thereof the tabs are folded along the score lines 166 and 170 so as to situate the outer end regions 32 and 34 in positions extending toward each other beyond the upright walls of the end members. Now the unfolded free end portions 42 and 44 of the end region 34 of the tab 30 are respectively slipped into the grooves 112 and 104 which are defined by the above-described ribs and flanges 100, 102, 108, and 1 12, so that this structure forms a means coacting with the tabs to retain the parts in the assembled condition, and the same operations are provided at the other hollow end member 14. The manner in which the tab 30 extends along the exterior of the hollow end member 16 and then around the bottom edge 106 thereof into the grooves 104 and 112 is also apparent from FIG. 3.

In assembling the body of sheet material 12 with the end members 14 and 16 in the above manner, the previously folded body of sheet material will have the front wall portion 72 received in the groove 96 while at the upwardly extending wall portion 70 will be situated over the top end 98 of the inner rib 94 extending upwardly therefrom in a manner shown most clearly in FIG. 2. The wall 68 extends between the front wall portion 70 and the rear wall portion 66 just beneath the inner rib or flange 162 which is located directly over the opening 84. The rear wall 66 will extend along and be supported by the rear flange 88. The upper rear portion 58 of the body of sheet material 12 becomes situated in the groove I18, and the protusion 124 presses at its relatively sharp bottom edge 126 into the slit 64 with the tongues 64a and 64b yielding in the manner described above, so that in this way a secure connection is provided not only by way of the tabs but also by way of the springy projection 122. In the same way the upper rear portion 58 is assembled with the springy projection 128 of the member 14 with the protrusion extending downwardly at the inner free end of the springy projection 128 also causing the tongues 62a and 62b to yield at the slit or cut 62 while the springy extension 128 presses at its protrusion into this slit to provide a secure connection also at the upper rear portion where the end member 14 is located.

Thus, an exceedingly reliable and stable interconnection of the components is made in a rapid simplemanner with the folding back 'of the sheet material at the front portion providing an exceedingly robust structure for the body of sheet material while a secure connection is provided by way of the springy projections 122 and 128, and in addition the inner flanges 162 over the openings 82 and 84 contribute to the stability of the entire assembly.

As was indicated above the support means for supporting the end members at a desired location includes the rotary screws 144 and 152 and the jaws 132 and 158 respectively situated thereover. Thus if no other space is available the end of a shelf can be received beneath the jaws 132 and 158 and the screws 144 and 152 can be tightened against the lower surface of such a shelf which is thus gripped between the screws and the jaws so that the structure of the invention can in this way form a shelf extender, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

However, each of the end members 14 and 16 is formed with a pair of downwardly extending foot members or feet which also form part of the support means. Thus it will be seen that the end member 16 has extending downwardly from the bottom flange 108 a pair of vertical flanges 172 interconnected by a longitudinal flange 174, and in the same way the flange 100 is integral with a pair of vertical flanges 176 interconnected by a longitudinally extending flange 178. Thus these flanges 172, 174 and 176, 178 form a pair of foot members to enable the end member 16 to be supported on any suitable horizontal surface such as the top of a counter. In the same way the end member 14 has a pair of foot members 180 and 182 extending downwardly from its lower flanges, and these members 180 and 182 terminate in bottom surfaces which are in a plane common with the plane of the bottom surfaces of the foot members of the member 16, so that the entire display device can with this structure rest on any horizontal surface if it is available.

Any desired articles can simply rest on the wall 68 of the body of sheet material to be suitably positioned for display purposes, and these articles may include boxes, bottles, or the like.

Also, along the fold line 46 the blank 18 may be formed with an elongated slit 184 situated centrally between the end members and capable of receiving a lower supporting portion for a sign which may extend upwardly from the rear wall 66.

The above-described structure lends itself to many different modifications. For example suitable dividing partitions may be situated between the vertically extending walls 66 and so as to provide compartments for receiving articles.

Also, an arrangement as shown in FIGS. 6-8 may be provided. The embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is identical with that of FIGS. l-Sexcept for the differences noted below. The identical parts are indicated by the same reference characters primed. Thus, the blank 18' which forms the body of sheet material 12' has a second pair of fold lines 186 and 188 located beyond the fold lines 52' and 54, and these additional fold lines 186 and 188 which are situated close to each other are followed by still another fold line 190. Of course the blank 18' is substantially longer than the blank 18. In addition the wall 68 of the blank 18 is formed with a series of circular openings 192.

Referring to FIG. 7, the member 16' has its rib 94' which defines the grdove 96' with the front flange 86 spaced from an additional rib 194 which is integral with the rearwardly extending rib 102 and flange so that in this way an additional groove 196 is formed between the rib 94 and the rib 194. Thus the rib 94' is common to the grooves 196 and 96' and is situated between and extends parallel to and is spaced from the flanges 86 and 194.

Finally, the member 16' is additionally provided, as compared with the member 16, with an additional pair of interior slightly inclined flanges 198a and 198b.

This blank 18 is assembled with the end members in the same way as described above. Of course, this construction has an end member of the same construction as the end member 16' of FIG. 7 except that it is a rnirror image thereof. The blank 18 is folded in a manner described above in connection with the blank 18 except that at the additional fold lines 186 and 188 the body of sheet material is again folded back upon itself so that there is a lower inner upright wall portion 200 (FIG. 6) situated behind the wall portion 72. Then the blank is folded along the fold line so that the blank has a lower wall portion 202 extending rearwardly from the upright wall portion 200 and of course rearwardly from the fold line 190, and this lower wall portion 202 of the body of sheet material is received at its opposed side edges between the flanges 198a and 19817 of the member 16 and between the corresponding flanges of the other hollow end member.

With this construction, as may be seen from FIG. 6, the openings 192 become situated over and spaced slightly above the lower wall portion 202. This type of construction will be used where cylindrical articles of elongated configuration such as bottles, elongated tubular articles, or the like, can be situated extending downwardly through the openings 192 and resting on the lower wall 202 so as to provide an exceedingly stable support for such articles.

Thus, except for the above-noted distinctions the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is identical with that of FIGS. 1-5.

It is apparent from the above description that the entire display device of the invention requires only a pair of inexpensively molded hollow end members and a body of sheet material made of an inexpensive freely available cardboard, for example, so that the entire structure is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture and of course it is readily assembled in the manner described above. The distance between the side edges of the body of sheet material can be made of any desired magnitude so that an elongated display device of any desired length can be provided. With the parts disassembled the sheet material can lie flat and the end members require a height only corresponding to that of the flange structure, so that the entire assembly is exceedingly flat and can be accommodated in a small package which is easily and readily shipped.

The entire structure is thus readily and quickly set up for use without requiring any special tools and either it can be supported so as to form a shelf extender or it can be supported on a horizontal surface if such a surface is available. After the display of the articles is terminated the entire device can be discarded without any great loss because of the low cost thereof.

It is to be noted that many variations are possible with the above structure of the invention. For example the fold line 48 can be situated closer to the fold line 50 so that the upright wall 66 is situated in front of and spaced from the rear flange 88 of each hollow end member. It is for this reason that the upper flange portion extends straight to the right beyond the wall 66 shown in FIG. 2 before being inclined downwardly. In this way the upper wall portion 58 can have an increased width, if desired. It will be noted that the space behind the opening 84 and beneath the upper flange of each hollow end member is completely free so as to accommodate bodies of sheet material having this configuration along these lines.

Also, while the embodiment of FIG. 2 is specifically designed for a body of sheet material such as that shown in FIG. 4, where this type of folded bodies of sheet material are to be used, the embodiment of FIG. 7 can be used for such different types of folded bodies of sheet material. Thus, referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that it is perfectly possible to use with this embodiment the blank 18 of FIG. 4. The body of sheet material will be carried by the structure of FIG. 7 in precisely the same way as shown in FIG. 2, the only difference being that there will be no additional lower wall received between the flanges 198a, 198b, or extended between the ribs 94 and 194. Thus in a situation where it is desired to use both the blank 18 of FIG. 8 and the blank 18 of FIG. 4, the end members having the structure shown in FIG. 7 can be used with both of these blanks, so that only the embodiment of FIG. 7 need be manufactured for use with both blank constructions.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend to the exterior of said end members with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls and extending beyond said openings along the exterior of said end members, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs which are located beyond said intermediate regions at the exterior of said end members for maintaining said tabs connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said end members are each in the form of a one-piece molded plastic body.

3. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said body of sheet material having an upper region extending rearwardly from said rear wall thereof and being formed at said upper region adjacent said side edges with a pair of cuts extending through the body of sheet material, and said end members respectively having springy extensions provided respectively with downwardly projecting protusions extending into said cuts for also contributing to the fastening of said body of sheet material with said end members.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said cuts are in the form of slits and said protusions are elongated and extend in the direction of said slits and terminate in relatively sharp edges which extend into said slits.

5. in a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and botv tom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions of said side edges,'respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receivingsaid side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet-material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said body of sheet material having an upper portion extending rearwardly from said rear wall and formed in the region of said side edges with a pair of cuts, respectively, said end members respectively having springy extensions provided with downwardly directed protusions extending into said cuts for contributing to the fastening of said body of sheet material with said end members.

6. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through whichsaid tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said tabs being respectively of a substantially T-shaped configuration with each outer end region of each tab terminating in opposed free end portions extending forwardly and rearwardly from said intermediate region of each tab,

said intermediate regions of said tabs being long enough to extend not only through said openings of said upright walls of said end members but also downwardly along exterior side surfaces of said upright walls and around bottom edges thereof, respectively, and said means for retaining said tabs assembled with said end members including portions of said end members situated at inner side surfaces of said upright walls thereof which are directed toward each other and defining grooves for receiving said forwardly and rearwardly extending free end portions of the outer regions of said tabs.

7. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members ad jacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said end members respectively having front ends provided with upright front flanges which are directed toward each other and define part of the hollow interiors of said end members, said end members respectively having spaced behind but adjacent to said front flanges interior ribs which extend only along lower portions of said front flanges and define upright grooves therewith, and said body of sheet material having a front end region received at side edge portions thereof in said grooves.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said body of sheet material is formed forwardly of said fold line with a pair of additional parallel fold lines extending parallel to said top and bottom edges and said sheet material being folded backwardly upon itself upon that one of said additional fold lines which is nearest to the bottom edge of said body of sheet material and having a front upright wall portion extending upwardly from the other of said additional fold lines substantially parallel to said rear wall and extending upwardly from and situated substantially in the same plane as said ribs of said end members with the body of sheet material having a double layer where it is folded back upon itself at a region adjacent said front flanges of said end members extending upwardly from said ribs.

9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said tabs are of substantially T-shaped configuration each having at said outer end region a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending free end portions extending beyond said intermediate region, said openings in said upright walls of said end members having a length equal only to the width of said intermediate regions of said tabs and said opening having a depth great enough to permit said tabs to pass through said openings when said free end portions of said tabs are folded backwardly upon themselves during movement of the tabs through said openings.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said free end portions of each tab when folded back upon themselves extend only part of the way across said intermediate portion and each opening in each upright wall of each end member having a pair of end portions of a greater depth than said intermediate portion and long enough to accommodate said free end portions of said tabs as they pass through said opening.

ll. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said second wall of said body of sheet material is a solid, uninterrupted wall on which desired articles may be placed for display.

12. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said body of sheet material has beneath said second wall a lower wall which is also received in said hollow interiors of said end members and which is positioned thereby at a predetermined distance below said horizontal wall, said second wall being formed with openings through which articles may extend to rest on said lower wall.

13. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means includes rotary screw members respectively carried by said end members at rear portions thereof and said end members respectively having rear jaw portions extending over said screw members, respectively, so that the latter can coact with said jaw portions for gripping a shelf or the like between said screw members and jaw portions whereby the display device can form a shelf extender.

14. The combination of claim I and wherein said support means includes foot members fixed to said end members at lower portions thereof for engaging a horizontal supporting surface so that the display device can be supported through said foot members or such a support surface.

* t t i i 

1. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend to the exterior of said end members with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls and extending beyond said openings along the exterior of said end members, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs which are located beyond said intermediate regions at the exterior of said end members for maintaining said tabs connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said end members are each in the form of a one-piece molded plastic body.
 3. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed Side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said body of sheet material having an upper region extending rearwardly from said rear wall thereof and being formed at said upper region adjacent said side edges with a pair of cuts extending through the body of sheet material, and said end members respectively having springy extensions provided respectively with downwardly projecting protusions extending into said cuts for also contributing to the fastening of said body of sheet material with said end members.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said cuts are in the form of slits and said protusions are elongated and extend in the direction of said slits and terminate in relatively sharp edges which extend into said slits.
 5. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions of said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said bOdy of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said body of sheet material having an upper portion extending rearwardly from said rear wall and formed in the region of said side edges with a pair of cuts, respectively, said end members respectively having springy extensions provided with downwardly directed protusions extending into said cuts for contributing to the fastening of said body of sheet material with said end members.
 6. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said tabs being respectively of a substantially T-shaped configuration with each outer end region of each tab terminating in opposed free end portions extending forwardly and rearwardly from said intermediate region of each tab, said intermediate regions of said tabs being long enough to extend not only through said openings of said upright walls of said end members but also downwardly along exterior side surfaces of said upright walls and around bottom edges thereof, respectively, and said means for retaining said tabs assembled with said end members including portions of said end members situated at inner side surfaces of said upright walls thereof which are directed toward each other and defining grooves for receiving said forwardly aNd rearwardly extending free end portions of the outer regions of said tabs.
 7. In a display device for supporting articles which are to be displayed, a body of foldable sheet material having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel opposed side edges which extend between and are substantially perpendicular to said top and bottom edges, said sheet material being formed between said top and bottom edges with a transverse fold line extending substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges so that said sheet material can be folded along said fold line to provide an upright rear wall extending upwardly from said fold line and a second wall extending forwardly from said fold line, said body of sheet material having a pair of side tabs respectively projecting laterally beyond said side edges between said top and bottom edges and respectively terminating in outer end regions which are located beyond intermediate regions of said tabs situated between said outer end regions and said side edges, respectively, a pair of hollow end members respectively having hollow interiors directed toward each other and receiving said side edges of said body of sheet material, said hollow end members respectively having upright walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said body of sheet material next to said side edges thereof and flanges extending from said upright walls toward each other and engaging at least part of said body of sheet material for determining the configuration of the latter, said upright walls of said end members respectively being formed with openings through which said tabs extend with said intermediate regions of said tabs being situated in said openings of said upright walls, and said end members respectively having means coacting with said outer end regions of said tabs for maintaining the latter connected with said end members to retain said end members and body of sheet material assembled in a condition where said side edges of said sheet material are received in the hollow interiors of said end members adjacent said upright walls thereof, and support means operatively connected with said end members for supporting the latter at a desired location, said end members respectively having front ends provided with upright front flanges which are directed toward each other and define part of the hollow interiors of said end members, said end members respectively having spaced behind but adjacent to said front flanges interior ribs which extend only along lower portions of said front flanges and define upright grooves therewith, and said body of sheet material having a front end region received at side edge portions thereof in said grooves.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said body of sheet material is formed forwardly of said fold line with a pair of additional parallel fold lines extending parallel to said top and bottom edges and said sheet material being folded backwardly upon itself upon that one of said additional fold lines which is nearest to the bottom edge of said body of sheet material and having a front upright wall portion extending upwardly from the other of said additional fold lines substantially parallel to said rear wall and extending upwardly from and situated substantially in the same plane as said ribs of said end members with the body of sheet material having a double layer where it is folded back upon itself at a region adjacent said front flanges of said end members extending upwardly from said ribs.
 9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said tabs are of substantially T-shaped configuration each having at said outer end region a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending free end portions extending beyond said intermediate region, said openings in said upright walls of said end members having a length equal only to the width of said intermediate regions of said tabs and said opening having a depth great enough to permit said tabs to pass through said openings when said free end portions of sAid tabs are folded backwardly upon themselves during movement of the tabs through said openings.
 10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said free end portions of each tab when folded back upon themselves extend only part of the way across said intermediate portion and each opening in each upright wall of each end member having a pair of end portions of a greater depth than said intermediate portion and long enough to accommodate said free end portions of said tabs as they pass through said opening.
 11. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said second wall of said body of sheet material is a solid, uninterrupted wall on which desired articles may be placed for display.
 12. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said body of sheet material has beneath said second wall a lower wall which is also received in said hollow interiors of said end members and which is positioned thereby at a predetermined distance below said horizontal wall, said second wall being formed with openings through which articles may extend to rest on said lower wall.
 13. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means includes rotary screw members respectively carried by said end members at rear portions thereof and said end members respectively having rear jaw portions extending over said screw members, respectively, so that the latter can coact with said jaw portions for gripping a shelf or the like between said screw members and jaw portions whereby the display device can form a shelf extender.
 14. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means includes foot members fixed to said end members at lower portions thereof for engaging a horizontal supporting surface so that the display device can be supported through said foot members or such a support surface. 